Combination three-dimensional article and closed display package therefor



Nov. 20, 1962 w. B. CRANE, JR 3,

COMBINATION THREE-DIMENSIONAL ARTICLE AND CLOSED DISPLAY PACKAGE THEREFOR Filed Dec. 15, 1958 Fig. 1

m %S we M n N 0 m 5 M m n l A 5 m ma h M z 2 LV../ 5% WE filifi ta'tes This invention relates to packages for articles of merchandise, and method of packaging and more particularly to articles and closed packages containing the same, which are arranged to provide for display of the articles.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved combination article and closed package containing the same, which is adapted to constitute an attractive and protective display for the article, whereby the latter may be readily viewed and presented to the best possible advantage.

Another obpect of the invention is to provide an improved combination three-dimensional article and closed display package therefor, wherein the package portion of the combination is extremely simple, and is constituted of a minimum number of components.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved method of packaging and presenting a threedimensional article for display purposes, which method is extremely shnple and involves little expense, and which may be quickly carried out, preferably utilizing massproduction techniques. 7

V In line with the above, still another object of the invention is to provide a combination three-dimensional article and display package, wherein the package structure may be readily machine-produced and also machineapplied to the article in a quick and easy manner.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved combination article and display pack age as characterized, wherein the cost of the package and the cost of applying the same to the article may be held to a very low figure whereby the packaging is economically effected.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an improved combination article and display package as above set forth, wherein an effective seal and closure is provided for the protection of the article.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel combination three-dimensional article and closed display package in accordance with the foregoing, which is inherently self-supporting when the article is of the type having a surface which may constitute a supporting base.

A feature of the invention resides in the provision of a combination three-dimensional article and closed display package, wherein all sides of the article may be fully viewed, thereby to enable a complete inspection of the article to be had without removing the same from the package.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of a novel combination article and display package as above characterized, wherein an appreciable saving of space is effected, and whereby a number of said packaged articles may be readily packed in lots, in relatively little space.

A further object of the invention is to provide an in.- proved combination three-dimensional article and closed display package, wherein the package means is durable, and reasonably reliable at all times in sealing and protecting the displayed article.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings accompanying this specification, similar characters of reference are used wherever possible flbdfifiz Patented Nov. 2%, 1962 to designate like components throughout the several views, in which FIGURE 1 is a front elevationalview of a combination three dimensional article and closed display package as provided by the invention, resting on a table surface shown in section.

FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 2--2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a blank from which the closed package is made.

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view, taken on the line 44 of FIG. 3.

PEG. 5 is a front elevational View of a combination article and display package illustrating a modification of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, the novel combination three-dimensional article and closed display package containing the same is shown as resting on a fiat table or supporting surface 1%. The packaged article is indicated by the numeral 11, and may have any of numerous different shapes or configurations. Preferably, the article 11 has a fiat undersurface 12 adapted to constiute a base, by which the article 11 may be supported on any flat table or other supporting surface. The article 11 may, for example, be in the form of a small figurine or other image; or, it may be constituted of a small container or bottle such as is used for cosmetic preparations and the like.

The display package of the invention comprises essentially a stiff supporting sheet 14 which is formed with a cut-out portion to provide a large opening indicated by the outline 15 in H6. 1, in which the article 11 is disposed. The straight edge bottom portion 17 of the supporting sheet is preferably, as shown in FIG. 1, substantially adjacent to the base or bottom surface 12 of the article 11.

The package further comprises a thin, transparent plastic membranous sheet 2b which is folded about the article l1 and conforms more or less closely to the contour of the article or at least to major parts of the contour of the article. The edge portions 21 and 22 of the plastic sheet 2%) are arranged in opposed, juxtaposed relation as clearly seen in FIG. 2, and lie substantially in a plane which is intersected by the article 11 and which substantially contains the said supporting sheet 14. The opposed edge portions 21 and 22 of the plastic sheet 2%, are, in accordance with the invention, held in place by the stiff sheet 14.

Preferably, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the stiff sheet 14 is constituted to have a double thickness whereby it comprises two opposed portions or halves 24 and 25, said stiff supporting sheet being also preferably formed from a single piece, such as the blank 26 indicated in PEG. 3. This blank 26 may be folded about a central fold line indicated by the numeral 28 in FIG. 3, thereby to form the composite or double thickness support shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. When constituting the stiff supporting sheet 14 in this manner, the blank 26 is preferably provided with a large opening 34) by virtue of the cutout portion whereby the opening 15 of the package indicated in FIG. 1 is formed at the time that the blank 26 is folded about the fold lines 28.

Further, in accordance with the invention, the package may be advantageously constituted by attaching the transparent plastic membranous sheet 29 to the blank 26 as indicated in FIG. 3, prior to folding of the blank, and the resultant assemblage may then be folded about the article 11 to completely enclose the latter at the time that the forming of the package is being completed.

. for stretching the plastic sheet, as for example, vacuum forming apparatus.

After the composite structure shown in .FIG. 3 has been fabricated, it is then folded about the article 11 by placing the article in the hollow or dished portion of theplastic sheet 2% and thereafter folding the stiff supporting sheet 14 about the fold lines 28. The two halves of the stiff sheet 14 are brought together and secured to each other, whereby the article 11 will be completely enclosed by the plastic sheet 20, and the opposed edge portions of said sheet will lie in a flat plane containing the rigid sheet 14, said plane being intersected by the article 11. Also, the base surface 12 of the article 11 may be disposed substantially adjacent to the fold lines 28 of the stiff supporting sheet 14, with the article projecting substantially from both sides of the supporting sheet, as clearly seen in FIG. 2.

The superposed halves 24 and 25 of the stiff supporting sheet 14 may be secured together in any suitable manner, as by stapling or the use of a suitable adhesive.

In accordance with the present invention, after enclosing the article 11 in the plastic sheet 20 as above described, the pocket may be preformed of dimensions similar to those of the article .to be carried thereby. Thereafter the size of the plastic sheet'may be reduced to substantially conform to the article. The pocket may also be preformed of a large size than that of the article and then shrunk. For example, where the plastic sheet is constituted of a vinyl composition, such as polyvinyl chloride, the size of the plastic sheet may be quickly and advantageously so reduced by the application of heat to the sheet, as through the use of a heated stream of air. Upon the plastic sheet being heated and allowed to cool, it will conform to the contours and protuberant portions of the article 11. During such process, the article and the display package may be rested on a flat supporting surface, such as the table surface 10 shown in FIG. 1, whereupon the flat bottom surface 12 of the article 11 will be positioned substantially adjacent to the straight edges 28 constituting the fold lines of the stitf supporting sheet 14.

Another form of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. and 6. As shown herein the packaged article projects from only. one side of the folded stiff supporting sheet, and is positioned thereon by certain portions of the supporting sheet, which are provided in a novel manner. The article 32 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 comprises a fiat, squat cylindrical container such as the metal or paper containers commonly used in the cosmetic industry or in other fields to package small articles. The container 32 is disposed in a circular opening 33 formed in a stiff supportingsheet 34, the bottom or back surface of the container 32 being substantially flush with the back surface of the supporting sheet 34.

Folded about the container 32 is a thin transparent plastic membranous sheet 36, said plastic sheet having edge portions 37 and 38 which are arranged in juxtaposed relation to each other and which lie substantially in the plane which contains the said stiff sheet. The edge portions 37'and 38 of the plastic sheet 36 are at least in part adhered to the back surface of the stiff supporting sheet 34.

The rear portion 39 of the stiff supporting sheet 34 has means for positioning the article 32. In effecting such positioning, the rear parts maybe provided with a relatively large opening 40 aligned with the opening 33 of the front portion of the sheet 34 and formed to be slightly smaller in size than the said opening 33. By this organi-- zation, the edge portions of the rear portion 39 which surround the opening 49 thereof will engage the back board would have two parts which, when the board is folded, produce the larger opening 33 in the front portion of the sheet 34 and the smaller opening 40 in the rear portion 39. Also, as seen in FIG. 5, the openings 33 V and 40 in the stiff sheets 34 and 39 extend to the corresponding superposed edges of the sheets, which make up the folded edge 42 of the blank. 7

The article 3'2 has a bottom surface 44 which is disposed substantially in the plane containing the said folded edge 42, whereby the surface 4-4 constitutes a base on.

which the article 32 may rest.

The forming of the package illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 is done in a manner similar to that already described above. The single piece from which the stiff sheet is formed, having the double-circle opening is provided with the transparent plastic sheet 36, the latter being stretched to provide a displaced or dished portion forming a pocket -which extends through mainly the circular opening 33 of the stiff sheet portion 34. The article 32 is placed in the said pocket, and the large single piece of stiff board or blank is then folded about the line 42, whereupon the two superposed portions of the board are adhered or secured together in any desired manner. Thereafter, the plastic sheet containing the article 32 is caused to closely conform to the contour of the article. The finished product then has the appearance seen in FIGS. 5 and 6.

It will now be understood from the foregoing that I have provided novel and improved combinations of an article and display package therefor, as well as a unique and advantageous method for packaging three-dimensional articles. The display package is seen to be extremely simple in its construction, constituting essentially but two main components, the stiff supporting sheet 14 and the plastic enclosing sheet 20. The package may be readily fabricated by machine methods and equipment as well as by hand, and may be also easily applied to the article by mass production techniques, and this latter is true of the shrinking process by which the plastic sheet 20 is made to conform more or less closely to the contour of the packaged article. The method as provided by the invention is further seen to be simple and capable of being readily carried out by automatic equipment as well as by hand, whereby desirable manufacturing economies are effected.

The completed combination article and display package has a number of advantages. The enclosed article may be so arranged that all portions of it are readily viewable. Also, the surfaces of the article are protected from dust, dirt, and other adverse influences, and instead the glossy appearance which is effected by the transparent plastic sheet enhances the colors and general appearance of the article, resulting in an attractive display thereof. Advertising or other data may be readily imprinted on the exposed sides of the stiff supporting sheet 14, as this iuscope of the claim, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

I claim:

The method of packaging an article with protuberant portions for display which consists of attaching a membranous thin stretchable plastic sheet to a stiff supporting sheet to span an opening in the stiff sheet, preforming the thin plastic sheet while retained across the opening into a pocket which when the sheet is folded upon itself will have dimensions larger than the size of the article to be packaged, folding the said sheets about the article along a predetermined fold line intersecting said opening to enclose the article within the preformed pocket, fixing the folded portions of the stiff supporting sheet together, and finally shrinking through the application of air the thin pocket plastic sheet material about the contours and protuberant portions of the article.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Schaub Jan. 31, 1933 Meyers May 31, 1938 Carson Mar. 16, 1948 Pfeifier Nov. 1, 1949 Stalter Dec. 13, 1949 Jenett Dec. 4, 1951 Runsey July 30, 1957 Darrow Dec. 3, 1957 Seyforth Nov. 4, 1958 Vogt Aug. 23, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS Australia June 4, 1951 France Dec. 23, 1957 

